The Steelers will have two receivers top 1,000 yards in 2021

The Pittsburgh Steelers are preparing for the 2021 regular season, but before the real games begin, the team has to head to training camp to fine tune their skills. As we here at BTSC prepare you for the start of camp, we give you a series called “30 Scenarios in 30 Days” which gives you a Steelers scenario every day leading up to the start of camp.

It is simple how it works. We provide you the scenario, reasons why it will or won’t happen, and then our prediction for what we think will take place.

Let’s get to the scenario...

Scenario: The Pittsburgh Steelers will have two receivers top 1,000 yards in 2021

2020 Receiving Totals:
Diontae Johnson - 923 yards
Chase Claypool - 873 yards
JuJu Smith-Schuster - 831 yards

Why it will happen: The Steelers’ offense was very pass-heavy in 2020, and there is a good chance the team will be doing plenty of throwing in 2021 under Matt Canada. The hope is there will be more balance between the pass and run, but if anything the addition of Najee Harris should help open up the receiving options down the field. Obviously, this would help for some bigger plays form the aerial attack, and ultimately having two players reach the 1,000 yard plateau. Last season the Steelers were close to having three players reach that mark, and when you throw in an extra game you have to like the team’s chances of having at least two-thirds of the trio above reach 1,000 yards.

Why it won’t happen: The case made for why the Steelers won’t have two receivers top 1,000 yards is easy. There is only one football to go around. Last season proved Ben Roethlisberger is able to spread the ball around, and in Matt Canada’s offense they will want to find mismatches and exploit them. This could lead to another season with a very even approach to the passing attack. Also, if the team is able to run the ball effectively, it could result in the passing numbers dipping. It might be a good thing for the offense, and the team, but a bad thing for the receivers looking to hit this career milestone.

Prediction: I absolutely think this scenario will take place in 2021 for multiple reasons. First, the presence of a running game will greatly help the passing attack. Second, Matt Canada’s creative schemes will help open up receivers and create mismatches for the receivers. Third, you can expect receiver Chase Claypool to take a big step forward in his second year, and this will help open up JuJu Smith-Schuster and Diontae Johnson. Now, which two receivers do I predict to crack 1,000 yards? I feel Claypool is a big play machine in the making, so I’ll take Claypool and Diontae Johnson. Smith-Schuster could be close, but in the early portions of the season I expect defenses focusing on taking him out of the game early.

Check out yesterday’s ‘30 Scenarios in 30 Days’ prediction: